Cigarette lighting and dispensing device



June 3, 1941. J. J. SHIVELY CIGARETTE LIGHTING AND DISPENSING DEVICEFiled m 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (lo/m (la/my. BY

MWfM

ATTORN EY June 3, 1941.

J. J. SHIYEL'Y CIGARETTE LIGHTING AND DISPENSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet.2

Filed lay 27, 19:59

.0 9k NM.

INVENTOR dohn d. Shiva/y m w ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE LIGHTING AND DISPENSING DEVICE 8 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in cigarette lighting anddispensing devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the above natureadapted to store a quantity of cigarettes and to light and dispense thecigarettes one by one as required by the operator.

Another object is to provide improved means to position the cigarettesfor lighting.

Another object is to provide means for lighting a cigarette withpositive air blast instead of with suction.

A further object is to provide a device of the above character includinga heating unit and means to force a draft of air through or across theheating unit into or against the end of the cigarette.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature including adash-pot adapted to prolong the action for proper lighting while at thesame time furnishing the air current.

Another purpose is to provide a device of the above nature in whichindexing movements and the like are positively actuated.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type adapted to usein motor vehicles and the like.

A still further object is to provide a device of the above type which issimple and reliable in action and which may be cheaply manufactured.

Other objects and advantages will become evident during the course ofthe following description in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a preferred formof the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the same with the cover plate removed andthe operating rod and guide in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmental detail view of the indexing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a fragmental detail section showing a cigarette in lightingposition;

Figure 5 is a bottom view on the line 5, Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a front elevation.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral l indicates a rear head to which issecured a cylinder II. A front head I2 is in turn secured to thecylinder II. The front head I! has a central guide l3 in which isslidably mounted a piston rod M. The front portion l of the piston rodI4 is of reduced diameter, joining the main portion at an angularshoulder I6. A pull knob I1 is provided on the front end of the reducedrod portion I5.

A piston I8, having a sealing cup 19 of leather or other suitableyielding material slidable in the cylinder l l, is secured to the rearend of the rod 14 by means of an insulating nut 20. A conicalcompression spring 2 l, disposed between the front head I! and thepiston l8, normally holds the latter to the right as shown in Figure 1.

A binding post 22, insulatedly secured in the middle of the rear memberID, has an interior contact head 23 normally received in a counter bore24 in the insulating nut 20. A spring switch arm 25, secured in aninsulating block 26, has a forked free end 21 underlying the contacthead 23 but normally held clear thereof by the end edges of theinsulating piston nut 20.

A cage or magazine 28, Figures 1 and 2, is mounted on the outside of thecylinder ll so as to be readily rotatable thereon. The magazinecomprises a series of circumferentially spaced pockets 29 each adaptedto receive a cigarette 30. In the present embodiment the number ofpockets is twenty-one, allowing for the storage of twenty cigaretteswith one additional pocket for the lighting and discharging position ashereinafter described. It will be understood, however, that the devicemay be constructed with a greater or smaller number of pockets,depending on the size and desired application of the device.

An outer shell 3|, adapted to retain the cigarettes 30 in the pockets29, is held in place in a rear clamp member 32 and an extension 33 ofthe rear head II). A front cover ring 34 is snapped or otherwisedetachably secured to the shell 3|. The shell 3| has a longitudinaldischarge opening 35 located in the bottom thereof and overlying aninclined receiving basket 36 adapted to catch and retain a dischargedcigarette.

The magazine or cage 28 has at its forward end a series of inwardlydirected radial lugs 31, one for each pocket 29, and hereinafterreferred to as ratchet lugs. A cylindrical extension 38 of the fronthead 12 lies within the circle of the lugs 31 and has a deep notch 39 inits lower portion. The notch 39 may have its bottom inclined inwardly inthe clockwise direction, Figure 2, and terminates in an abutment 40. Adished plate 4| engages the cylindrical extension 38 and has its lowerportion cut away as shown in Figure 2. The central portion of the plate4| encircles the top of a stepped collar 42, the plate and collar beingsecured on the outer end of the guide l3 by means of a nut 43, Figure 1,this nut as well as the cover plate 34 being removed in Figure 2 to showthe relation of the operating parts most clearly.

A lever hereinafter referred to as the control lever, is rotatablymounted on the collar 52, being retained between the latters innerflange and the plate i. A tension spring 65, Figure 2, hooked to theinner ide of the dished plate E and to the control lever '36, urges thelatter counterclockwise. The lever M has an inwardly turned foot Figuresand 5, normally held to one side of the main longitudinal opening 35 inthe shell 35 as shown in Figure 5 so as to allow any cigarette occupyingthe bottom poclret 23a to drop out as hereinafter explained.

An indexing rod 47 has a middle portion forming a ball d8 movablysocketed and retained in the guide portion ii! of the front head E2. Theguide portion 53 is cut away as illustrated at 9 to allow the rod i!rocking motion either in an inward direction as illustrated in dot anddash lines, Figure or in a rotary direction as shown in Figure 3. Adiagonal tension spring 56 normally holds the rear portion 55 of the redA? against the reduced portion 55 of the piston rod M and in engagementwith the shoulder it, the rod 47 in this position lying clear of thelugs 3 When the knob il' is pulled outward the shoulder i8 first rocksthe rear portion ii of the rod 41 straight outward, causing the frontend thereof to move inward behind a lug until the rod encounters theinclined inner surlace of the notch 39 which restrains the inwardmotion. Continued outward movement of the piston rod Hi thereaftercauses the inclined shoulder E6 to shift the rear portion 51 of heindexing rod i'l diametrically as shown in Figure 3, the end of the rodn engaging the lug 3! and rotating the magazine cage 28. By this means,at each outward pull of the knob H, the cage 28 is positively indexedthrough a rotative distance equal to the spacing between adjacentpockets 25, the pockets thus being successively brought into registrywith the bottom discharge opening An inwardly turned lug tea on thelever 44 engages the rod M so that as the rod is swung, the lever 45 isalso swung to bring the foot below the lowest magazine slot 28a as shownin Figure 3. At each return of the piston rod id to normal position, asshown in Fi ure 1, the spring 5Q also returns the indexing rod ll tonormal position ready for the next indexing action, the lever i i beingalso returned by its spring A leaf spring pawl 52 is secured to theinner side of the dished plate ll and is adapted to successively springinward behind the lug to prevent possible return motion of the cage 25.The pressure of this s, mg pawl also serves normally to prevent rattlingof the cage due to vibration, for example in automobile use.

A hollow cylind'ical member 53 of electrical insulating and resistingmaterial s ch porcelain or the like, is disposed in the forward end ofthe rear member iii, contains electrical heath unit of any suitable formsuch as a ccnicl spiral of resistance ribbon 54. A ring 55, also ofinsulating material, is pressed against the rear end of the member 53 bya threaded plug thus clamping the member in place. The ring 555 alsoclamps the two ends of the heater unit ribbon 5": respectively againstthe outer end of the switch arm 25 and the interior of extension. 33. Bythis arrangement it will be seen that the heater is electricallyconnected at one end to the insulated switch arm and is grounded at theother end to the body of the device.

The inner end of the retaining plug 55 contains a central chamber 5; incommunication through a hole 53 with the large air chamber 59 inside therear cylinder iead iii. The interior of the ring comprises a restrictedorifice or nozzle 5i adapted to project air from the chamber El throughthe heating unit 5 1 as illustrated in Figure i.

The rear head it therein a number of large inlet air holes 85 controlledby a light resilient faced inlet valve 62 normally held shut by a lightspring spider E3.

The head Ill may be formed with a semi-circular abutment (it havingthreaded holes '55 for attaching the device to any desired support,either directly or by means of suitable brackets or clamps.

Taking as typical the use of the device in an automobile, the device isattached to a suitable portion of the car in such manner that the rearhead member ii! is grounded, and the binding post 22 is connected by awire to the cars electrical system. As the nut Ell normally holds theswitch arm 25 out of contact with the head 23 of post 22, however, nocircuit normally exists through the heating unit 54.

The operation is as follows: The detachable cap is removed andcigarettes 3t inserted in all pockets 29 except the lowest or lightingand discharge pocket after which the cap 34 is replaced.

When the operator re ,uires a lighted cigarette he pulls out the knobi'i, preferably to its fullest extent, compressing the spring 2!. Thisoperation performs three functions as follows: The indexing rod ll isactuated to rotate the cage 28 as previously described, bringing acigarette a into line with the heating unit in which po sition thecigarette is supported at its front and rear ends respectively by thefoot 46 of lever 44 and the small rear end portion of the shell 3!, asshown in Figure l. Secondly, the initial withdrawal of the insulatedpiston nut Fill allows the switch arm 25 to spring into contact with thehead of the binding post iii, causing current to flow through theheating unit 54 and bring the latter to incandescence. Thirdly, theoutward movement of the piston I8 draws a charge of air inward past thevalve 62 into the cylinder H.

When the knob ii is released the spring 2i to force the piston 58inward. The air trapped ahead of the piston can find egress only throughthe hole and nozzle orifice Bil, and is consequently forced outwardthrough the latter, thence through the heater 5 i and against the oi thecigarette The air passing through the incandescent heater 54 is heatedthereby to high temperature, and the blast of hot air driven against andinto the end of the cigarette and aided by direct radiation from theheater lights the end of the cigarette. The smallness of the orificedelays the return of the piston to normal position, thus allowing thelighting action to continue for ample time to assure proper ignition ofthe cigarette.

As the piston rod M approaches normal pon to release the indexing rod4'! as previously ibed, the spring 45 swings the control lever to theside position shown in Figure 2. The

foot is thereby moved from under the front end of the lighted cigaretteallowing the latter to topple down into the basket where it comes torest as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 1. In this position, it isreadily picked up by the smoker. At the conclusion of the inward pistonstroke the nut 20 forces the switch arm 25 out of contact with thebinding post head 23, thus breaking the circuit through the heating unit54.

Breather holes 66 are provided in the front head l2 to prevent anycompression or vacuum in the front part of the cylinder II. Due to theconstriction of the orifice 60, its resistance to the passage of air isso much greater than that of the inlet valve 62 on the suction strokethat any inward flow through the hole 58 is so small as to benegligible. It is obvious, of course, that a check valve of any commontype may be provided therein, but in the preferred form shown, this isunnecessary for the reason stated above.

From the foregoing description of the structure and operation, it willbe evident to those skilled in the art that the invention presents manyadvantages over prior devices, some of which are as follows:

A dash-pot action performs the double function of sustaining thelighting action and at the same time furnishing a positive air blast toensure thorough lighting. The use of this positive blast, instead ofsuction as used in some prior devices, eliminates the necessity foraccurate registration of the cigarette with a suction opening and alsoavoids any outside connection to a source of suction such as anautomobile inlet manifold, the only connection necessary for the presentinvention other than the grounded mounting being the wire to the bindingpost 22. The device thus being substantially self-contained allows greatease and latitude in location in a vehicle. The lack of suction tubesinto which smoke is drawn eliminates such common troubles as plugging upof tubes with gum deposits, leaking or breaking of tubes, or failure ofthe source of suction for example when the engine is stopped. Thecigarette normally does not come into contact with the heating unitduring lighting, the lighting being accomplished by combined radiationand hot air blast, as previously set forth. Obviously, therefore, theheating unit is kept free from any troubles due to adhering ashes orpartially burned tobacco. which troubles are well known characteristicsof the contact type of unit. It will be noted that the closing of theelectric circuit at the beginning of the outward piston stroke allowsthe heating unit some time to be heated before the start of the airblast. Finally, each cigarette occupies its individual pocket 29 in themagazine cage 28 and is individually controlled at all times, so thatinterference and clogging of cigarette feed cannot occur even in case ofimperfect cigarettes.

The removable cap 34 may be formed with windows 61 overlying an innertransparent strip 68 cemented or otherwise secured on the inside of thecap. These windows permit the number of cigarettes in the magazine to beobserved. An open hole 69, Figures 1 and 6, is provided in the cap 34 inline with the heating unit 54. This hole 69, together with a slot 10 inthe lever 44, allow for the escape of air and smoke which may be driventhrough the cigarette 30a by the air blast.

While the invention has been described in preferred form it is notlimited to the exact structures illustrated, as various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, an electricalheating element, a magazine having pockets adapted to separately holdcigarettes, means to index said magazine whereby said cigarettes may besuccessively positioned adjacent said heating element, means to connectsaid element to a source of current, common means to actuate saidindexing means and said connecting means whereby said cigarettes may besuccessively i nited by heat from said element, means to open saidconnecting means, and means to retard the operation of said openingmeans whereby the period of said ignition may be prolonged.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, an electricalheating element, a magazine having pockets adapted to separately holdcigarettes, means to index said magazine whereby said cigarettes may besuccessively positioned adjacent said heating element, means to connectsaid element to a source of current, common means to actuate saidindexing means and said connecting means whereby said cigarettes may besuccessively ignited by heat from. said element, means to open saidconnecting means, a dash-pot, a piston in said dash-pot and connected tosaid common actuating means, said piston being movable in one directionby said common actuating means to draw air into said dash-pot, saidopening means including a spring adapted to move said piston in theother direction and said dash-pot having a constricted outlet for saidair whereby the operation of said opening means may be retarded.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, an electricalheating element, a magazine having pockets adapted to separately holdcigarettes, means to index said magazine whereby said cigarettes may besuccessively positioned adjacent said heating element, means to connectsaid element to a source of current, common means to actuate saidindexing means and said connecting means whereby said cigarettes may besuccessively ignited by heat from said element, means to open saidconnecting means, a dash-pot, a piston in said dash-pot and connected tosaid common actuating means, said piston being movable in one directionby said common actuating means to draw air into said dash-pot, saidopening means including a spring adapted to move said piston in theother direction, said dash-pot having a constricted outlet adapted todischarge said air through said heating element and against the ends ofsaid cigarettes.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a dash-pot,manual means to charge said dash-pot with air, a rotary magazine adaptedto separately retain a plurality of cigarettes, an electric heatingelement, means to index said magazine whereby said cigarettes may besuccessively positioned with ends thereof adjacent said element, saiddash-pot having a constricted outlet passage leading through saidelement, and resilient means to discharge air from said dash-pot throughsaid passage and element and against said ends of said cigaretteswhereby said cigarettes may be successively ignited.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 including means to successivelyrelease said ignited cigarettes from said magazine.

6. In a cigarette lighting and dispensing device, in combination, adash-pot, a magazine rotatable around said dash-pot and having1ongitudinal pockets adapted to separately contain a plurality ofcigarettes, a stationary casing around said magazine and having anopening defining a li hting station, a heating element at one end ofsaid station, means to charge said dash-pot with air and to rotativelyindex said magazine whereby said cigarettes may be successively movedinto said lighting station with ends thereof adjacent said heatingelement, a support adapted to be positioned by said indexing means tosuccessively retain said cigarettes in said lighting station, means todischarge said air from said dash-pot, and means controllable by saiddischarging means to retract said support whereb said cigarettes may besuccessively released through said opening.

7. In a cigarette lighter and dispenser, in combination, a dash-potcylinder, a head on said cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder, aspring normally holding said piston at one end of said cylinder adjacentsaid head, a rod secured to said piston and extending outward throughsaid cylinder, an inlet valve in said head, a switch on said head, meanson the inner end of said rod to normally hold said switch open, means toconnect said switch to a source of current, a heating elementelectrically connected to saidswitch, a cylindrical magazine rotatablymounted on said dash-pot cylinder and adapted to hold a plurality ofcigarettes, a handle on said rod and operable to draw said rod outwardwhereby said piston may be withdrawn from said head to draw a charge ofair through said valve and whereby said switch may be closed, meansoperable by movement of said rod to rotarily index said magazine wherebysaid cigarettes may be successively positioned in registry adjacent saidheating element, and means forming a constricted outlet passage for airfrom said cylinder through said element and against said positionedcigarettes.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 including means controllable by returnof said rod to normal position to release said positioned cigarettesfrom said magazine and casing, and an exterior basket adapted to catchsaid released cigarettes.

JOHN J. SHIVELY.

